Arunahcal Pradesh is awarding hydroelectric projects to private companies at the breakneck speed of one every nine days without proper scrutiny. A report by Arnab Pratim Dutta Once you reach Lower Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, you know you have stepped into the shadowy side of "shining" India -the cell phone stops catching signals, the roads are worn out and the electricity supply, erratic. If you drive 40 km out of its district headquarters Roing to Nizam Ghat and then trek for three hours in Mishmi hills, you will reach Pather Camp, a nowhere destination in absolute wilderness.

Cauvery delta farmers have urged Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to release Mettur water for irrigation on June 1, instead of the usual June 12. In a representation, vice-president of the Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association K.V. Kannan said in view of comfortable storage position, the government could consider the request. If water were released on June 1, farmers could harvest bumper kuruvai crop well ahead of the northeast monsoon.

SHILLONG

Provincial Minister Syed Ali Mardan Shah, terming the irrigation water scarcity in District Umerkot as artificial and created by some vested interests, has vowed to take all possible measures to remove the shortage. He was speaking at a big public gathering at Town Hall, Umerkot after his arrival there following his induction as the provincial minister.

Provincial minister without portfolio, Syed Ali Mardan Shah, has blamed vested interests and corrupt officials of Irrigation Department for

Shortage of water rendered most of the farmers unable to sow cotton at the most appropriate time, said District Council members during Wednesday's session. They deplored the daily seven to 10 hours of load-shedding as this was taking toll on the physical, psychological and financial status of Hesco consumers.

The falling water level in reservoirs indicates the impending power crisis and uncomfortable summer for people in Punjab . The decade's lowest water levels in the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB)-managed Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar Dam reservoirs this time have caused concern among the state's power circles resulting in considerable loss of power generation in all BBMB-managed projects. This has also led to the dwindling of BBMB's share in Punjab's power kitty from the usual 175 lakh to 200 lakh units to an estimated 105 lakh units this time.

Farmers staged protest demonstrations, manhandled irrigation department staff and blocked main roads in four towns of the district on Tuesday in protest against water shortage. Hundreds of farmers, whose land is irrigated through Dilary distributary, staged a protest outside the office of irrigation department in Kot Ghulam Mohammad. The protesters were carrying banners and placards and were demanding water in the canal.

Senior Minister for Irrigation, Raja Riaz Ahmed has said that corruption or negligence will not be tolerated in the irrigation department, provision of irrigation water at tail ends would be ensured. He also assured that prompt patrolling round the clock would be fully conducted, for checking water theft and irrigation department will be made farmers friendly.